Nutcracker.



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hmmm JHNSON PAYNE, OF PANTHER BURN, MISSISSIPPI.

` NUTCRAGKEB.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1917.

Application led September 19, 1916. Serial No. 120,943.

To all 'whom it may concern.' y

Be itknown that l, WILLIAM JOHNSON PAYNE, a citizen of the United States, and

vide a nut cracker of comparatively small' dimensions so that the same can be used at a dinner table and which will crack nuts with comparatively small eort.

The device is characterized by a movable jaw actuated through the medium of 'a cam by one of the handles of the device. This structure adapts the device for use as a Wrench as Well as a nut cracker and, there- -i fore, although the' description and disclosure therein relate to a nut cracker it must be understood that the structure disclosed and claimed is not limited to a nut cracker.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views. l

Figure 1 is a vertical section on line 1 1, Fig. 2; I

Fig. 2 is a top plan View; and

Fig. '3 is a cross section on line 8 3,

rig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 4"I's the main body of the device which is elongated and terminates at one end with a risingbportion 5 forming a section of the stationaryjaw. The other end of the main body terminates in a handle 6 with 'which coperates a similar handle 7 pivoted to the main body by apin 8 adjacent the handle 6. A spring 9 is secured to the handle 7 to engage the handle 6 at its juncture with the body 4 for moving said handle 7 away from the handle 6. The movement of the handle 7 from the handle 6 is limited by a projection 10 formed on the main body -4.

Coperating with the main body 4 is a plate 11 havingthe same elongated shape as the main body and terminating at oneend in a projection 5 similar to 5 and therewith complementing the main body to form the stationary aw. The other end of said plate abuts against the portion of the handle 6 which is raised above the main body 4. The outer surface of the plate and the handle are flush. rlhe plate 11 is maintained rigidly against the body 4 by screws 12 or rivets, lugs 13 being provided on the body l and the plate to maintain the proper clearance therebetween for the handle, the cam plate 14 and the movable jaw 15.

The movable jaw 15 is engaged between the body and the plate 11 and is mounted to slide on the straight edge formed by the body and plate. Said jaw has undercut grooves 16 which are engaged by the inwardly raised edges 17 of the main body 4 and plate 11, whereby the jaw 15 is free to slide only to and from the fixed jaw 5 and 5. The two jaws have preferably concave engaging surfaces 18 facilitating the gripping of a nut therebetween.

The cam plate 14 has an arm 19 the end of which is connected to the movable janv 15 by a pivot 20.I The cam 14 presents an arcuated surface 21 to the end 22 of the handle 7 ywith which it cooperates. Prefto be engaged bythe properly formed edge of the end 22 of the handle 7. Gravity normally maintains the rigid surface of the cam in engagement with the end 22 of the handle 7.' When the jaw 15 is tobe moved away from the lined jaw 5, the cam plate 14 is picked up by a head 23 to bring the curved edge 21 of the cam plate away from the end 22 of the handle 7, the plate swinging on the pivot 20. A ,tool .Great movement of the curved edge from the end 22 of the handle 7 is prevented bye, 24 forming an extension of the raised edge 17. A tongue 25 is provided at the end or" the arcuated sur- ;tace of the cam to prevent the pulling out of the end of the cam from between the main body and plate 11. y

When a nut is to be cracked with the device, the head 23 of the cam plate 1s grasped,

whereby the movable jaw 15 is moved away from .the n'ed.v jaw 5. A nut is thenintroduced between the jaws and the cam plate is forced downwardly until the movable jaw is stopped by the nut located between the jaws. By grasping the two handles 6 and 7 and forcing the handle 7 toward the handle 6 the end 22 is made to engage the ratchet surface of the cam, binding the same and thereby forcing the movable jaw lerably the arcuated surface is dented'so as y toward the fixed jaw and, consequently, cracking the nut therebetween.

It will be noted that the movement of the cam plate and, therefore, the movable Jaw 15 is limited by the' sweep of the handle 7. ThisV displacement is ofy such a length as to insure a -positive cracking of the nut shell without crushing the kernel. The curvature of the ratchet surface is such that the displacement of the movable jaw at any position of the cam plate is substantially constant. yThe point of engagement between the end 2:2 of the handle with the ratchet surface is on a line substantially parallel with the surface which guides the movable jawl when the maximum strain is applied. That is to say, the initialpressure takes place on a line slightly inclined to the surface which guides the movable jaw. As the resistance increases the line of action of the pressure becomes more and more parallel to the direction of motion of the jaw l5.

lhile l have described the principle of operation, together with the device which l now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood 'that the deviceshown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made as are within the scope of the appended claims.

l claim:

l. In a device of the class described, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a cam' plate pivotally connected to the movable jaw and whereby said movable jaw can be moved` to and from the fixed jaw, and operating means connected to the fixed jaw for engaging the .cam plate at any position thereofand move the same through a predetermined limited distance toward the fixed jaw by a complete displacement of said operating means, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. ln a device of the class described, a, jaw, acam plate prefixed jaw, a movable sentlng an arcuated ratchet surface and having an arm in pivotal connection with the an arm in pivotal connection movable jaw, and means in pivotal connection with the fixed jaw for engaging said ratchet surface of the cam at any position thereof whereby a predetermined limited movement may be imparted to the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw by a complete movement of said means, substantially as and for the pu-rpose'set forth.

3. In a device of the class described, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a cam plate presenting an arcuated ratchet surface having with the movable jaw, and a first-class level mounted on the fixed j'awand having` means for engaging the ratchet surface of the cam Iand whereby a limited displacement may be imparted to the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw.

d. In a device of the class described, a fixed jaw, .a movable jaw, a cam plate presenting an areuated ratchet surface and pivotally connected to the movable jaw, and a first-class lever on the xed jaw for engaging-the ratchet surface at any position of-v the movable gaw to impart a limited dissaid movable jaw toward the placement to fixed jaw.

5. ln a device of the class described, a

body portionpresenting a fixed Jaw, a jaw i movable on the body to and from the fixed gaw, a cam Aplate pivoted to said movable jaw to swing in the body, a lever of the first class pivoted to the body to move into the pathof the cam plate, saidcam plate presenting an arcuated ratchet surface to the lever to be engaged thereby and whereby 4 a limited movement may be imparted to the movable jaw toward the xed jaw by said lever, thearcuated ratchet surface of said cam being so formed that the displacement imparted to the movable jaw by the lever is substantially constant at any position of the movable jaw relative to thefixed jaw.

WLLIAM JOHNSON PAYN E.

Witnesses: v

W. P. Snaontnronn, Jr., D. C. Snamr.

@entes of this patent may be obtained for five een-te each, by addressing the" Commissioner of :eas-ema,

- Washington, E. d. 

